Tuesday, November 30, 2010

High Hopes Weekly challenge with a sneak peek


So excited to party like an animal for this week's HHS challenge! We are challenging you to make a card with an animal on it- a party animal if you can. I used another one of the new images to party with and to also give you another sneak peek. FYI- this is our last challenge of the year until they resume again in January. While there are no challenges there will be High Hopes cards shared using the new images by the DT through December. Click here to go to the challenge blog and read more about how you can play to win and see some delish samples with more new images. Enjoy! Andi

Monday, November 29, 2010

High Hopes Stamps- Yay- it's time for our first sneaky peeky!


Good Morning!!! I am sooo super excited to share my first sneak peek of the massive Dec release from High Hopes stamps! I fell in love with the image above the moment I saw it as I have a huge thing for stamps with cats. I made this cat a ginger and loved adding layers of colour to him. Honestly- I played around with this image for 2 hours to colour it. What a sweet stamp! You will be able to grab this stamp along with many many many others starting Wed at either:

So many places to get your HHS fix. Come back tomorrow for another sneak peek and as well hop along to the other HHS DT blogs for my peeks. We all posted using different stamps so that you get to see as many different ones as possible. Click here to go to the HHS Challenge blog to get started. Enjoy! Andi

Saturday, November 27, 2010

KKS weekly challenge- All I can see are spots everywhere!


This week Kraftin' Kimmie herself has challenged us to use spots and dots on our cards. I used Skating Polar Pal on my card today and some of my beyooootiful My Minds Eye winter paper. I tried to add my spots and dots a few ways- in my paper, on my brad, on his nose and with my pearls. So no you don't need to adjust your monitor- you really are seeing spots everywhere. To play along with us and see the rest of the DT creations click here to go to the KKS challenge blog.

Now I am off to get my hubby cleaning and cooking up a storm for my krafty friends coming over today- yippee!! My sweetie is treating us to his homemade coconut shrimp...mmmmm....Hope your day is amazing too! Cheers Andi

Thursday, November 25, 2010

PRC- Tag your it!


Tag your it!!!!

Cindy over at the PRC challenge blog has asked us to use a tag (or ticket in my case) on your creation. I used the Unity Itty Bitty What's Shakin'. This was a super fast and easy card for me to make. I started with a 4x4 card base and scrunched up some paper to make a paperish ribbon. I have to say a new to me toy is the Tim Holtz mini stapler and I am in love!! I used it all over this card...maybe a wee bit too much...as it was super easy and fun to use. Love it! It's been ages since I used a stapler on a card and it used to be my fave thing to do- I think it's time for a comeback :)

For more eye candy hop on over to the PRC challenge blog and see how inspiration hits you. Have a great day! Andi

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

High Hopes stamps- Let's get sketchy....


This week's challenge is my favourite kind- sketches. Love when I don't have to put together a card layout! Mind you when I do I think mine all look the same lol! I used a stamp from the Laurie Furnell line - High Flyin' Mouse. I have a soft spot for furry critters and I adore colouring up mice. Just don't show me a real mouse... Isn't it amazing how such a small little creature can cause so many of us to jump up on furniture and screech lol! I used paper from the Linen Closet line from DCWV and some embellies I had laying around- including a hand crotched flower from my friend Angela A- thanks Angela! More please nudge nudge wink wink-hee hee! 

Luckily for me I have access to these stamps at Scrappingreatdeals.com and also at Paper Romance. Both places I get my goodies at regularly. And of course you can also get them at High Hopes.

If you feel like getting sketchy with us hop on over to our challenge blog to play along and win some free High Hopes stamps. Also- more eye candy to inspire from the DT.

Hope you all have a craft-licious day, Cheers! Andi

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Kraftin' Kimmie stamps weekly challenge- Krafty girls get Krafty....

**Please note this is my second post for today- please scroll down for my 'Oh Alice' challenge post**

Today our challenge is to get krafty- with kraft cardstock that is! I used the new Mona stamp from KKS and coloured her up to match my patterned paper. I remember these old types of sewing machines with the huge foot pedal. My parents had a black and yellow one and I just loved to play with it. I added a lace doiley and pearls to give it the heritage look I was going for. To see what 'krafty' creations the rest of the Krafty girls made click here and read how you can also play along to win. Cheers! Andrea

Oh Alice challenge...Hooka are you?


"Who are YOU?" said the Caterpillar.

This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, "I--I hardly know, sir, just at present-- at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then."

~Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,Chapter 5

Welcome to the mad world of Wonderland! Once again we are here to inspire you to create great things! The Caterpillar (Absalom) was the wisest creature in Wonderland. At least he thought so, and so did most of the others.

He is a fascinating character because of his wisdom, and his lack of understanding metamorphosis. Kind of a weird oxymoron, don't you think? Our challenge this week is to use either a caterpillar or a butterfly in your project. If you'd like to go one step farther, use a definition or dictionary paper in your design (any subject is fine).

If you are fortunate, you may find yourself wisely winning your choice of three 4x6 reprints from our sponsor, Maigan Lynn Beaudoin Shaw. FanTASTic!! Maigan is such a delightful artist, and the team appreciates the chance to work with one of her images! I actually worked with Maigan's mermaid images awhile back on the very first DT I was ever on so colouring up this image was a nice trip down memory lane.

Click here to go to the 'Oh Alice' Challenge blog to see the challenge details and the eye candy the DT created with this fun image. Cheers...Andi xoxo



Friday, November 19, 2010

Impression Obsession stamp handle- oh how I love thee....


Those of you who have met me have probably heard me RAVING about Impression Obsessions magnificent stamp block. I have had the privilege of meeting the owner of IO Mitra this past summer and I saw her demo'ing stamping backgrounds with background stamps. I have to say at first I wasn't very interested when I saw what she was doing because I HATED stamping backgrounds as I always miss parts of the image no matter how hard I try. So I am standing there not paying too much attention until out of the corner of my eye I see her roll the background stamp once onto her paper...and it came out perfect!!! So of course I elbowed my way to the front of the group to see more of what she just did. I asked very nicely (aka demanded) if she could do that again. She inked a large 5.75x5.75 stamp....positioned it on her paper...rolled it once...and again it was perfect.

HOLY COW.........

 I asked how it worked for finely detailed stamps and she very nicely showed me. She placed a much smaller detailed stamp on her large block, inked, rolled and out came a perfect image.

THUD....sorry that was me fainting.

I found my new love. I could not stop telling Mitra how much I loved loved loved this handle and must have one asap! She hooked me up quickly...perhaps to get the crazy woman professing her undying love away from her hee hee... and off I went. I ran home with my new handle and forced Sheila at SGD to carry these in her store now..now...NOW!!!!!!

I have become a very brave stamper let me tell you! I used to very hesitantly get my stamp ready for inking, tried lots of different layers, foams, soft surfaces, hard surfaces, etc etc etc and would stamp my image and no matter what it always took me a few tries to get a clean image. I tried everything everyone told me with no luck. I don't know if it's because of not being strong enough but I had terrible luck. Mind you, my stamper friends pretty much all shared this feeling and our garbage was filled with wasted (pricey) paper with half stamped images on it. Now with my IO handle I stamp once with ease and brag about it to everyone I know. Constantly. And again if you have met me you can vouch for that hee hee! Not only does it stamp super well for me but I can also fit more than one stamp on the handle and often stamp multiple images at a time. You read that right! And of course I do it with more bragging and a cocky look on my face lol! Rarely does it not stamp cleanly and if it doesn't I know before I even look at it because I knew my roll across my paper didn't have pressure on all sides of the block.

Ahhh Mitra....sooo happy I met you. And I have to say I have been buying up the Impression Obsession stamps like crazy! Must haves are the beautiful amazing swirls (I took this to a crop and it was one of the most used and borrowed items) and also any of the cover a card stamps- my fave being the branches. Now all us SGD diva's have one and truth be told it's usually on back order and doesn't get a chance to hit the floor because of the waiting list to get one. Which you should probably put your name on ;)

For a picture tutorial on how to use the Rocker Block (actually called the Mega mount but I have always called it rocker block because it rocks my world lol) click below to go to the IO blog and see one of their DT's picture tutorial!


Below I have included a card I made using the deelish swirl stamp..sigh..bliss. Okay enough chatter from me today. Here is one of my fave crafty sayings that applies here....If you are having trouble sleeping at night...it's because you don't own this must have tool. Just sayin! Cheers- Andrea

**Please note I am not being paid or anything by IO or SGD to rate this product. I just love it that much**

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Cute Card Thursday with Kraftin' Kimmie stamps...

Kraftin' Kimmie stamps is sponsoring this great sketch from Cute Card Thursday this week. I used one of the new Kraftin' Kimmie stamps 'Lavender the Quilter'. I actually made this card specifically for someone and I used their favourite colours...let's see if they visit my blog today and can figure out that it's for them hee hee.


Now...of course I have to admit purple is my fave colour too and as I have shared on my blog before it is clearly the best colour in the world!!!!!! Just sayin' hee hee. If you are feeling crafty today hop on over to the CCT Challenge blog to see how you can plan along and don't forget you can also get KKstamps at Paper Romance and they have a great weekly challenge blog too. Lots of ways to play, win and be inspired!! Cheers..Andi

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Winner of the Kraftin' Kimmie stamps from my giveaway!!!!

The moment you have been waiting for....the winner of the stamps according to Random.org is.......


Congrats and please email me with your mailing info at ajmurdock@hotmail.com!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

High Hopes Challenge- Make a Masculine Card...

Today's challenge over at the High Hopes Challenge blog is to make a masculine card. This was a bit of a challenge for me as I couldn't use my glitter and bling. At least according to my hubby most boys don't like those things lol. As per his advice I kept this card clean and simple- but couldn't resist putting glossy accents glaze on the froggy and the water hee hee. Had to make is shine some how! I used the High Hopes stamp Hangin' Around which can be purchased at:


Click here to go to the HHS challenge blog and see the rest of the DT creations and also how you can play along with us to win! Cheers, Andi

Sunday, November 14, 2010

It's Kraftin' Kimmie stamps release time!!


**Please note Junior Krafty girls Jaime and Katie will be back later with their cards :)**

Today Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps is releasing their new November images! As you’ve seen over the last few days in our Krafty Peeks, Annie Rodrigue has created some totally awesome KRAFTY GIRLS this month! There are six images in the complete set and they are The Krafty Stamper, Annie the Artist, Mona the Seamstress, Natalie the Knitter, Lavender the Quilter and Sabrina the Spinner (who is shown on my card above)! Each one comes with it’s own matching accessory stamp and a bonus coordinating sentiment!

And Steven Leary is back with MILES THE MOUSE and his pals and they are having some frosty winter fun! You’ll get to check them all out in today’s November release day KRAFTY HOP!! You’ll meet Miles on Ice, Miles and Winter Friends, Skating Polar Pal, Skiing Miles and Mice Angels! Two of them come with sentiments too!!

If you have already been hopping along the next stop for you today is the super sweet and talented Tara. If you want to start from the beginning, just head over to the Kraftin’ Kimmie Challenge Blog! As you hop from blog to blog, be sure to leave a comment at each and every stop because some lucky stampers will win packages of stamps from the new release!! And when you’re done hoppin’, be sure to head over to the Kraftin’ Kimmie shop, because ALL the new images are NOW available!

Also we’ve got ‘Gimme Kimmie’s Kits’ again!! For those of you who just HAVE to have all the new images, we’ve got the perfect thing for you! It’s called the ‘Gimme Kimmies Kit’!!! Instead of clicking on each image that you’d like, you only have to click once to pick up a Gimme Kimmies Kit AND it’s at a discounted price!! What could be better???

Cheers, Andi

Saturday, November 13, 2010

A KKS challenge with Sneak Peek #3


**Please note this is my second post for the day. Please scroll down for my Oh Alice post**

Today's challenge over at Kraftin' Kimmie stamps is to use funky fibres on our creations. I have had this red fibre since I very first started stamping as it was one of my first purchases from Stampin' Up lol! All these years I have hoarded it and finally put in a box to sell at the next garage sale and lo and behold it finally came in hand lol! I used another one of my new Miles images and more of last year's papers. Plus the cuttlebug folder I bought last year and didn't use before now. Boy oh boy I am so proud of myself using up my stash like this. I also added white flocking to his coat to help keep the poor guy warm as his tushy must be so cold from sitting right on the ice.

For the full challenge details and to see the rest of the DT creations click here to go to the KKS challenge blog. Cheers! Andrea

Oh Alice- Nothing but Tea and Time on our hands....


Chapter 39: Nothin' but Tea and Time...

"Alice felt dreadfully puzzled. The Hatter's remark seemed to have no sort of meaning in it, and yet it was certainly English. `I don't quite understand you,' she said, as politely as she could.
`The Dormouse is asleep again,' said the Hatter, and he poured a little hot tea upon its nose.
The Dormouse shook its head impatiently, and said, without opening its eyes, `Of course, of course; just what I was going to remark myself.'
`Have you guessed the riddle yet?' the Hatter said, turning to Alice again.
`No, I give it up,' Alice replied: `what's the answer?'
`I haven't the slightest idea,' said the Hatter.
`Nor I,' said the March Hare.
Alice sighed wearily. `I think you might do something better with the time,' she said, `than waste it in asking riddles that have no answers.'
`If you knew Time as well as I do,' said the Hatter, `you wouldn't talk about wasting IT. It's HIM.'
`I don't know what you mean,' said Alice.
`Of course you don't!' the Hatter said, tossing his head contemptuously.
`I dare say you never even spoke to Time!'"

Greetings friends in Wonderland!

Today we have a fun challenge for you based on a lovely inspiration piece that the Mad Hatter herself just might "need" one of these days!

But first, a BIG warm WONDERLAND welcome to Tracy Evans, our November/December Guest! Tracy has wow'd us with her projects for a while and we are thrilled to have her here at our Twisted Table.
This week, we have an inspiration piece, again from one of Jess's favorite designers,Tarina Tarantino (Shown above).

It LOOKS like a watch, but in this case, the face of "Father Time" is the Mad Hatter himself. We can just see him, shouting out from this beautiful piece and startling it's owner "YOU HAVEN'T EVEN MET TIME!". Boy, it sure feels like that some days..time simply moves TOO QUICKLY to catch!

Click here to see some AWESOME samples from the DT!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Kraftin' Kimmie stamps- Sneaky Peeky #2

Miles and I are back again today for another sneak peek for Kraftin' Kimmie stamps. This new stamp to be released on Sunday is called 'Mice Angels'. Ahhhh young love- look at Miles and Maisie sooo in love. This stamp could also be called 'Snow much in Love' hee hee! I used one of my fave paper companies on this card- American Crafts. I have to go to my friend Jody's store - Scrapbook Memories- to drain her supply of AC papers whenever possible! This is from their 'Dear Lizzy' line and I grabbed the matching stickers too- totally couldn't resist! So I am making sure I use at least a few of them to justify their purchase lol.

Click here to go to the KKS Challenge blog and see more sneak peaks from my talented Krafty friends! Cheers, Andrea

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Sneaky Peeky time for Kraftin' Kimmie stamps...

It's time to start Kraftin' Kimmie stamps November's sneak peeks and first up from me is my buddy Miles and some of his polar pals. This stamp is actually called Miles and Winter Friends and was so fun and fast to colour up for this card. I added some grey copic marker to the inside of my polar pals and then shaded around them in BG0000 to help show how white they are. Okay okay...actually Kimmie did that on her card and I just copied her hee hee! I think Miles is so cute in his Winter coat with it's furred collar- obviously faux fur or his furry friends probably wouldn't hang out with him hee hee. I used my hoarded MME winter paper from last year and some of my other rediscovered winter embellies from last year. Yep proud of myself for actually using some of last year's stash. Of course this didn't stop me from buying more this year...or else what can I use next Winter lolz!!!

For more sneak peeks hop on over to the KKS challenge blog and get ready to see some Winter fun and some amazing rubberized Krafty ladies!!! Cheers, Andi

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

High Hopes Weekly challenge- use your buttons!

This week's High Hopes Challenge is to use your buttons. Not a problem for me since I own a squajillion of them in jars all around my craft room. Does anyone else keep them from their new clothes when they find them stitched inside as a spare? I swear my hoarding ability keeps growing hee hee!

On my card this week I used Snowy Portrait and coloured him up with my copics on Neenah paper. I then used some of my new Bo Bunny winter paper that I scooped up at SGD after drooling over it. My drool got it wet so I had to buy it ;) Added some ribbon, the sentiment, button, snowflake then voila! Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy- gotta love those cards that just come together fast and simple :)

Thanks for stopping by my blog today and don't forget to pop on over to the High Hopes challenge blog to see how you can play along to win. Oh and of course drool all over the DT samples- just be careful not to drool on your computer hee hee! Cheers, Andi

Monday, November 8, 2010

Colouring snowmen with Copics and Whipper Snapper stamps


Happy Monday! I wanted to share with you today two cards I made where I used different copic colours to shade my snowmen. I have been asked what colours to use so I hope this helps.

The first card is using Winter Snowman from Whipper Snapper stamps which as you may know from reading my blog is one of my top 3 favourite stamp companies. If you like to colour like I do then these stamps are a match made in heaven. Everyone should own some! Trust me! :) On this card I used BG's (blue greens) to give the snow a cool blue undertone. I only used 2 colours- BG0000 and BG10. Oh and my blender pen. I used BG10 to draw a thin line in the areas I wanted to show dimension and then went over the area in thicker lines with the BG0000. I then used my blender pen about halfway into my coloured area and just did a few swooshing sweeps towards the centre of the image to have the colour gradually fade to just white.


This card is using Jingle-balls and I used C's (cool greys) to add my shading. I used C00, C1 and C3. I followed the same process as above. I added a very thin line of C3, then colouring overtop of that line and a little farther out with C1 and then going over both of those colours with C00. Again I used my blender pen to pull the grey to the centre of the image to help it gradually fade. Please note when you first colour it you may be unhappy with it and think it's too dark. Just set it aside and let it dry for a bit before you play with it anymore. I found after the paper dried it lightened up quite a bit and made it not look too harsh.  

I hope you like my cards and that I helped you with your winter cards and your colouring of that tricky white stuff. Have a great day everyone! Cheers- Andrea xoxo

Saturday, November 6, 2010

KKS weekly challenge- its so distressing!!


This is my second post for the day- please scroll down for my 'Oh Alice' weekly challenge card :)

This week's KKS challenge over at the challenge blog is to add distressing to your card. I love distressing every since I got an electronic distresser while at CHA. Schweet! I used Stocking Miles and some lovely Echo Park winter paper. Is anyone else loving Echo Park paper lines? I found them just this past summer and I am grabbing it as soon as Sheila gets it in. Oh and I can't forget to thank a new to me challenge blog Sketch Saturday for today's layout- thanks ladiese!

Just a quick post today as I am crafting with a whole bunch of my BSF's and I am in heaven!!! Hope you have a great crafty weekend too. Cheers, Andi

Oh Alice Challenge- get yer tickets ready!


`Tickets, please!' said the Guard, putting his head in at the window. In a moment everybody was holding out a ticket: they were about the same size as the people, and quite seemed to fill the carriage.

`Now then! Show your ticket, child!' the Guard went on, looking angrily at Alice. And a great many voices all said together (`like the chorus of a song,' thought Alice), `Don't keep him waiting, child! Why, his time is worth a thousand pounds a minute!

`I'm afraid I haven't got one,' Alice said in a frightened tone: `there wasn't a ticket-office where I came from." And again the chorus of voices went on. `There wasn't room for one where she came from. The land there is worth a thousand pounds an inch!'
-- Chapter 3, Through the Looking Glass

Greetings friends in Wonderland! We are FULL STEAM AHEAD into November and today's challenge is JUST the ticket! Our ride this week is sponsored by our own Tasha who is generously donating a $15 gift certificate to Stamping Bella (in honor of their cute new Alice stamp) which will be awarded to one randomly selected winning traveler!

But before we get started, there are some changes at our twisted tea party table! We are bidding farewell to longtime design team members Jen and Suzi, so please leave them some extra love as you visit their last Oh, Alice! DT posts. We will really miss their superb talents! Donna, our amazing October guest designer, is stepping up to the table so we are back to our twisted thirteen. Welcome Donna, we are so glad you are staying where it's always time for tea! Be sure to check back next week for to find out who our guest designer will be for the holiday season!

A quick note on my card. I used a sweet Whipper Snapper stamp and my friend Mercy posts a great sketch every week on her blog and this is where my card layout came from this week.

So, do you have YOUR ticket ready for a ride on the Wonderland Express? Our twisted sis Lynne is the conductor this week and she says you can't travel with Oh, Alice! if you don't show us your ticket! You can make a ticket, use a ticket stamp, use a real ticket. Use one ticket or a whole row of tickets! So hop on it and get YOUR ticket ready to take a journey through Wonderland!

To learn more about this week's challenge click here to go to the challenge blog and get ready to travel with all of the inspiring examples.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

PRC23- Everything but the kitchen sink featuring High Hopes....


How are you today?? I have to say I had a very crafty day yesterday and now I need a day to rest hee hee! One of the things I made was this card for Paper Romance's challenge 23- Everything but the Kitchen sink. The name of the game was to use lots of embellishments, papers, basically anything you wanted. I went crazy and used copics, punches, lots of paper, stickles, brads, crystals and nestabilities. Phew! I also used one of my fave holiday stamps from High Hopes from Paper Romance called Chris Mouse. He reminds me of my hubby every year when we pull out the lights. Actually more like Clark Griswald from Christmas vacation. A massive ball of string and lights and his blood pressure goes up just from looking at it. Of course not only do I not touch it and interfere with his system I don't talk to him and stay as far away as I can. We have learned the things we do well together....and the things we don't. This falls heavily in the 'don't do together' section of our relationship- just like grocery shopping and home improvements.

To read more about how you can also play to win hop on over to the Paper Romance Challenge blog and see what the rest of the DT has created. Cheers!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

I have been holding onto a HUGE secret for months.....

Okay...where to start...okay first- I have had this secret for ages and ages!!!!! Happy secrets are hard to keep but I did it!!! Okay...it's also going to be happening for 3 months- right till the end of January. Okay...have you guessed it yet?? No..okay...well do you recognize the stamp on my card? I used it before on a card found here. Okay..I am just going to spill...

I AM A GUEST DESIGNER FOR HIGH HOPES- WOOT WOOT!!

Yippeeeeee!!! Today is my first post for High Hopes and I am thrilled! I get to play with High Hopes stamps all the time when I create for Scrappingreatdeals and Paper Romance and I love their images to colour with my copic markers...mmm...perfect stamps for colouring!

For my first challenge with HHRS we were to make a step card- I actually wasn't even sure what that was but I was up to it. Thankfully Lacey sent me a link to a tutorial from Beate on splitcoast that you can find here that walks you through it. Phew- thanks again Lacey! I used Ele-fun and some of my hoarded Echo Park summertime paper as it always says birthday paper to me. I also used my glitter pen and clear glaze to add dimension to my image. To read more about this week's challenge deets and how you can play to win click here to go to the High Hopes blog and also to see what the rest of the DT created. Let me put it this way- I almost resigned when I saw the rest of the ladies creations-AmAzInG!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, a bit more about me and High Hopes. I actually found out about High Hopes stamps a few years back when I first started using copic markers and I needed to find stamps that would allow me to colour them. I was shown High Hope stamps by Sheila and that was it- my first copic cards would be using their stamps so I have always had a soft spot for their images. In fact some of my first eva coloured cards were using some of their older images. I have included them below for giggles. These are some of my first ever cards using copic markers.

Yep...me and High Hopes...we go wayyyyy back :)